''Janet'' (stylized as ''janet.'') is the fifth studio album by American singer
Janet Jackson, released on May 18, 1993, by
Virgin Records America
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
. Prior to its release, Jackson was at the center of a high-profile bidding war over her recording contract. In 1991, her original label
A&M sought to renew her contract, while others, such as
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
,
Capitol
A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity.
Specific capitols include:
* United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
* Numerous ...
, and Virgin all vied to sign her. After meeting with Virgin owner
Richard Branson, she signed with the label. The contract was worth an estimated $40 million, making her the world's then-highest paid musical act.
Criticism that her success in the music industry was attributed to being a member of the
Jackson family
The Jackson family is an American family of musicians and entertainers from Gary, Indiana. Many of the children of Joseph Walter (or Joe) and Katherine Esther Jackson were successful musicians, notably the brothers that formed the Motown boy ...
and a producer-dependent artist led her to write all lyrics for the album, in addition to co-producing every song and co-writing each of their arrangements with
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...
. Its title, read "Janet, period.", is meant to disassociate her public image from her family, dropping her surname. An
R&B record, ''Janet'' incorporated
pop,
hip hop,
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...
,
house and
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
, eliminating the rigid,
industrial
Industrial may refer to:
Industry
* Industrial archaeology, the study of the history of the industry
* Industrial engineering, engineering dealing with the optimization of complex industrial processes or systems
* Industrial city, a city dominate ...
sound of her previous records. Lyrically, the theme of ''Janet'' is sexual intimacy—an abrupt departure from her conservative image. Much of her lyrics emphasize a woman's perspective on sexuality and the demand for practicing
safe sex.
In the United States, ''Janet'' became the singer's third consecutive album to top the
''Billboard'' 200 and her first to debut at number one. Selling 350,000 copies in its first week, it set a record for the highest first week sales for a female artist at that time.
Certified
Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...
sixfold platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), it has sold over seven million copies in the US according to
Nielsen SoundScan. Internationally, ''Janet'' topped the record charts in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom, and has sold an estimated 14 million copies worldwide.
''Janet'' remains one of only seven albums in history to produce six top-ten hits on the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, including the number-one singles "
That's the Way Love Goes" and "
Again
Again may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Again'' (video game), a 2009 adventure game for the Nintendo DS
* '' Again!!'' manga
* ''Again!'', a 2011 children's book by Emily Gravett
* ''Again'' (film), a 2015 Japanese film
Music
* Again (band), a ...
". The
MTV-sponsored
Janet World Tour
Janet World Tour (stylized as janet. World Tour and known as Summer Escapade during the summer of 1994) was the second concert tour by American singer, performer, songwriter and dancer Janet Jackson. It was launched in support of her fifth studio ...
supporting the album received critical acclaim for Jackson's elaborate stage performances, reinforcing her reputation as one of the preeminent artists of the
MTV generation
The MTV Generation refers to the adolescents and young adults of the 1980s and early-mid 1990s, a time when many were influenced by the television channel MTV, which launched in 1981. The term is often used to refer to Generation X. The development ...
''.'' ''Janet'' cemented her as an international icon and
sex symbol, and is listed by the
National Association of Recording Merchandisers The Music Business Association (Music Biz), formerly known as the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM), is a not-for-profit trade association based in Nashville, Tennessee that seeks to promote sustained financial growth and bolst ...
and the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 200 Definitive Albums of All Time. Academics argued the erotic imagery in her music videos have contributed to a higher degree of sexual freedom among women.
Background
Rumors of a multimillion-dollar bidding war over Jackson's recording contract began to circulate in spring 1991. ''
Jet'' magazine reported: "A recording company has offered in excess of $50 million to sign superstar Janet Jackson to a recording contract, making the 24-year-old singer/songwriter/dancer/actress the key player in one of the hottest bidding wars among today's major record companies." Reports indicated that
Capitol
A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity.
Specific capitols include:
* United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
* Numerous ...
,
Virgin
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
and
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
were all bidding for Jackson's contract, as her ties to
A&M would soon expire; by March, she had signed with Virgin. ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' declared "Janet Jackson has signed what is believed to be the most lucrative contract in the history of recording. The 24-year-old singer, songwriter and actress signed an exclusive contract with Virgin Records it was announced yesterday." Her new contract guaranteed a twenty-two percent royalty payment, in addition to her then-historic signing bonus.
Chuck Philips
Charles Alan Philips (born October 15, 1952) is an American writer and journalist. He is best known for his investigative reporting in the ''Los Angeles Times'' on the culture, corruption, and crime in the music industry during the 1990s and ...
of the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...
'' reported that it had been the largest bidding war in recent memory and that "
e reason the bidding was so heavy, various industry observers have noted, was that Jackson-at just 24-is still a relatively fresh face on the pop scene and that her dance-pop style is ideal for today's pop/video climate."
In addition, her potential as an international superstar proved to be the primary motivation for the label's investment.
Jeff Ayeroff
Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff (born January 20, 1947) is an American record executive who has worked for A&M, Warner Records, Virgin U.S., Work Group, Apple, and Shangri-La Music. He founded Rock the Vote in 1990 in response to a censorship campaign ag ...
, co-managing director of Virgin in the US stated: "Janet is a world-class artist and we expect her growth to be enormous."
Chairman
Richard Branson spoke with Jackson privately to seal the deal. He commented: "A Rembrandt rarely becomes available... When it does, there are many people who are determined to get it. I was determined."
Stephen Holden of ''The New York Times'' criticized the contract amount, considering it a gamble for Virgin. He stated that Jackson "is a producer-dependent artist—i.e., someone who relies on others to make her sound interesting and trendy. She also lacks a sharply defined personality, both as an artist and celebrity. Where singers like
Ms. Houston and
Mariah Carey have commanding vocal power, Ms. Jackson's is a relatively indistinguishable studio voice." Richard Branson rebutted this argument stating "Ms. Jackson has met with great success working with the production team of
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...
, just as her brother Michael Jackson has experienced his greatest successes with the producer
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
. It is interesting that Mr. Holden doesn't mention this similar 'liability' when discussing Michael Jackson. To say that Ms. Jackson is 'dependent' on her producer is a shortsighted observation. She is a formidable talent who stands on her own." Michael Jackson would break his sister's record only days later, when he signed a $60 million contract with
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainmen ...
. Both sibling's contracts garnered considerable criticism. ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that "A&M Records President Al Cafaro, whose company lost the fierce bidding battle over Janet Jackson to Virgin Records, said record companies may be vesting too much importance in individual performers" as the funds used as advances to the Jacksons could have launched recording careers for numerous unknown talents. Cliff Burnstein of Q-Prime management commented that recording artists demands for advances upon signing would begin to escalate from that point forward.
Prior to her first release with Virgin, Jackson was asked by Jam and Lewis to record a song for the
sound track
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of ...
to the feature film ''
Mo' Money
''Mo' Money'' is a 1992 American comedy -drama film directed by Peter Macdonald, and written by Damon Wayans, who also starred in the film. The film co-stars Stacey Dash, Joe Santos, John Diehl, Harry Lennix, Bernie Mac (in his film debut), and ...
'', released in 1992 by their label
Perspective Records. Jon Bream of the ''
Star Tribune'' reported: "For most movie soundtracks, producers negotiate with record companies, managers and lawyers for the services of big-name singers. Like the Hollywood outsiders that they are, Edina-based Jam and Lewis went directly to such stars as Janet Jackson,
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
,
Luther Vandross,
Bell Biv Devoe
Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, is an American music group from Boston, Massachusetts, formed from members of New Edition, consisting of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe.
The band is best known for their debut album, the multi-p ...
,
Color Me Badd
''Color'' Me Badd is an American contemporary R&B group that was formed in 1985 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma by lead singer Bryan Abrams (born November 16, 1969), tenor Mark Calderon (born September 27, 1970), second tenor Sam Watters (born July 23 ...
and
Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill Jr. (born May 22, 1966) is an American singer and actor. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B/pop group New Edition and was also a member of the supergroup called LSG, with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. Gill has released e ...
."
Jackson and Vandross recorded the duet "
The Best Things in Life Are Free
"The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a duet between American singers Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, recorded for the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced soundtrack to the 1992 American film '' Mo' Money'', starring Damon Wayans. The song was ...
" featuring Bell Biv Devoe and
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Edward Tresvant (born May 16, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer, best known as the lead singer of R&B group New Edition. As a solo artist, Tresvant released the album '' Ralph Tresvant'' (1990). In 2008, he ...
, which peaked at number 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and topped the
Hot R&B Singles chart. Shortly afterward, Jackson began filming for her first feature length role in
John Singleton
John Daniel Singleton (January 6, 1968 April 28, 2019) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer. He made his feature film debut writing and directing '' Boyz n the Hood'' (1991), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for ...
's ''
Poetic Justice
Poetic justice, also called poetic irony, is a literary device with which ultimately virtue is rewarded and misdeeds are punished. In modern literature, it is often accompanied by an ironic twist of fate related to the character's own action, henc ...
''. Although she was encouraged by a major studio executive to take on a film in which she could portray a singer, she insisted on finding a different role. She explained: "About that same time John Singleton asked me to read his new script. John and I became buddies—I loved
Boyz n the Hood—so I thought he was just asking my advice. I was shocked and honored to learn the screenplay had been written with me in mind. 'Would you play Justice?' he wanted to know. Yes! I'd finally found a role—a dramatic nonsinging role—that was right."
Released in July 1993, ''Poetic Justice'' debuted at number one at the box office, grossing $11,728,455; it grossed a grand total of $27,515,786.
Conception and titling
After writing songs with themes of independence for ''Control'' and social injustice for ''Rhythm Nation 1814'', Jackson desired to devote her new album to love and relationships, describing the theme of her new album as "intimacy" and that "
xual communication is the name of the game."
She stated in an interview with David Wild for ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' that "
ile I was doing Rhythm Nation, I was thinking about how things were so hard, so regimented and so black and white ... I thought I'd do something on the sexy side—which is hard for me since I grew up as a tomboy and don't really think of myself that way. But I think this album is more on the feminine tip."
She also commented on how her experience acting in ''Poetic Justice'' played a role in taking a new direction with her music. Speaking with biographer David Ritz, she stated that "''Rhythm Nation'' was a heavy record, and ''Poetic Justice'' was a heavy movie. I wanted to do something lighter but also daring ... When I wrote the album, I was still in a poetic frame of mind, inspired by
Maya's beautiful language. You can hear that inspiration or the interludes and especially on the song "New Agenda". This time I felt much freer expressing myself."
Despite the critical and commercial success of her two previous albums, Jackson continued to receive numerous comparisons to her brother Michael, often with doubts that she held staying power in the music industry. When
Edna Gundersen
Edna Gundersen is an American journalist who was a longtime music writer and critic for ''USA Today''.
Gundersen grew up in El Paso, Texas. She attained a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at El Paso and then wrote features and en ...
of ''
USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...
'' questioned her about the subject, she responded: "Certain people feel I'm just riding on my last name ... That's why I just put my first name on janet. and why I never asked my brothers to write or produce music for me."
Virgin Records expressed the album title "punctuates the declaration of strength the singer, songwriter and producer boldly expresses on this moving collection of songs which explore love, sensuality, the power of sisterhood and her own evolving self-identity." Thomas Harrison, author of ''Music of the 1990s'' (2011) wrote that "
e conscious decision was made, by the company and/or Jackson, to put her into the same league as other one-named artists, such as
Madonna,
Bono,
Beyonce and
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...
, or at least to put her on the same standing as others in the industry who are often called by one name, such as
Whitney Whitney may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Whitney'' (2015 film), a Whitney Houston biopic starring Yaya DaCosta
* ''Whitney'' (2018 film), a documentary about Whitney Houston
* ''Whitney'' (TV series), an American sitcom that premiered i ...
,
Mariah,
Britney,
Diana,
Dolly, and
Garth
Garth may refer to:
Places
* Garth, Alberta, Canada
* Garth, Bridgend, a village in south Wales
:* Garth railway station (Bridgend)
* Garth, Ceredigion, small village in Wales
* Garth, Powys, a village in mid Wales
:* Garth railway station (Powy ...
among others. Jackson could now, in a sense, stand on her own and not be seen as a product of the family entertainment machine." Sal Cinquemani of ''
Slant
Slant can refer to:
Bias
*Bias or other non-objectivity in journalism, politics, academia or other fields
Technical
* Slant range, in telecommunications, the line-of-sight distance between two points which are not at the same level
* Slant d ...
'' magazine recounted the title of the album ultimately "announced the singer as completely independent of her male-dominated family
ndit positioned her as the person in charge of her sound."
Production
The album was recorded at Flyte Tyme Studios in
Edina, Minnesota
Edina ( ) is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States and a first-ring suburb of Minneapolis. The population was 53,494 at the 2020 census, making it the 18th most populous city in Minnesota.
Edina began as a small farming and mil ...
, from September 1992 to February 1993. Songs on the album, with the exception of "What'll I Do", were written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and mixed by Steve Hodge and Dave Rideau; "What'll I Do" was written and produced by Jackson and Jellybean Johnson. Jackson took a larger role in songwriting and production than she did on her previous albums. She explained that "
l my records are personal, and janet, is the most personal of them all. That's why this time around it was important for me to write all the lyrics and half of the melodies."
Jam described the record as being "a more mature album musically." David Ritz noted that Jackson and her producers took risks by experimenting with musical influences that had not appeared in their previous work. He explained: "She asked
Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano known for her distinctive vocal range and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performance ...
and
Public Enemy
"Public enemy" is a term which was first widely used in the United States in the 1930s to describe individuals whose activities were seen as criminal and extremely damaging to society, though the phrase had been used for centuries to describe ...
's
Chuck D to contribute—an opera diva and a hardcore rapper, two artists one would not associate with Janet—and somehow pulled if off. Beyond Jam and Lewis, there's now a recognizable Janet Jackson production style that's gutsy and, in some cases, even eccentric."
"That's The Way Love Goes" contains a sample loop of "
Papa Don't Take No Mess" written by
James Brown,
Fred Wesley
Fred Wesley (born July 4, 1943) is an American trombonist who worked with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s and Parliament-Funkadelic in the second half of the 1970s.
Biography
Wesley was born the son of a high school teacher and big band lead ...
, Charles Bobbit, and
John Starks.
The song "Again", was originally just an experimental sound the production duo was considering.
While Jackson found its melody compelling, the trio did not give the song serious contemplation until the film producers from ''Poetic Justice'' requested a ballad for the film's soundtrack.
Jackson subsequently wrote the lyrics for "Again" and adapted them to Jam's melody.
The song was arranged by Lee Blaskey and accompanied by members of the
Minnesota Orchestra and the
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
''janet.'' features eclectic production choices. The record incorporates R&B ("That's the Way Love Goes", "Where Are You Now", "The Body That Loves You", "Any Time, Any Place"), new jack swing ("You Want This", "Because of Love"), rock ("If", "What'll I Do"), opera ("This Time"), house ("Throb"), jazz ("Funky Big Band"), hip hop ("New Agenda"), and pop ("Again", "Whoops Now"). The album expanded Jackson's musical endeavors from the more electronic-based soundscapes of her prior albums. Like its
immediate predecessor, ''janet.'' also features a number of interludes between songs that vary from short conversations, instrumentals, and ambient-based tracks.
Release and promotion
''Rolling Stone'' cover
In September 1993, Jackson appeared topless on the cover of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine with the hands of her then-husband
René Elizondo, Jr. covering her breasts. The photograph is the original full-length version of the cropped image used on the cover of the ''Janet'' album, shot by
Patrick Demarchelier
Patrick Demarchelier (; 21 August 1943 – 31 March 2022) was a French fashion photographer.
Early life and education
Born near Paris in 1943 to a modest family, Demarchelier spent his childhood in Le Havre, Normandy, with his mother and four ...
. In the cover story, "Sexual Healing" by David Ritz, Jackson explained, "sex has been an important part of me for several years. But it just hasn't blossomed publicly until now. I've had to go through some changes and shed some old attitudes before feeling completely comfortable with my body. Listening to my new record, people intuitively understand the change in me".
Ritz likened Jackson's transformation to
Marvin Gaye as he stated, "just as Gaye moved from ''
What's Going On'' to ''
Let's Get It On
''Let's Get It On'' is the thirteenth studio album by American soul singer, songwriter, and producer Marvin Gaye. It was released on August 28, 1973, by the Motown subsidiary label Tamla Records on LP.
Recording sessions for the album took pla ...
'', from the austere to the ecstatic, Janet, every bit as serious-minded as Marvin, moved from ''Rhythm Nation'' to ''Janet'', her statement of sexual liberation".
The image was cropped to show only Jackson's face on the album cover, and midriff in the interior booklet. The full version appears as the cover of the limited edition double-disc edition of the album, as well as the video compilation ''
Janet
Janet may refer to:
Names
* Janet (given name)
* Janet (French singer) (1939–2011)
Surname
* Charles Janet (1849–1932), French engineer, inventor and biologist, known for the Left Step periodic table
* Jules Janet (1861–1945), French psych ...
'' released later that year. Sonia Murray of ''
The Vancouver Sun
The ''Vancouver Sun'', also known as the ''Sun'', is a daily broadsheet newspaper based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The newspaper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. Published si ...
'' later reported, "Jackson, 27, remains clearly established as both role model and sex symbol; the Rolling Stone photo of Jackson ... became one of the most recognizable, and most lampooned, magazine covers of the year".
Singles
"That's the Way Love Goes", the album's
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number fourteen and peaked at number one.
The single was certified gold by the RIAA on November 12, 1993. Virgin records intended for "If" to be the lead single for the album, but Jackson, Jam and Lewis disagreed.
"That's the Way Love Goes" remained at number one for eight weeks—the most successful chart performance of any member of the Jackson family.
The single earned a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. "If" was released as the album's second single and peaked at number four on the Hot 100, receiving gold certification on September 28, 1993.
To promote the album, Jackson performed a medley of the first two singles at the
1993 MTV Video Music Awards
The 1993 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 2, 1993, honoring the best music videos from June 16, 1992, to June 15, 1993. The show was hosted by Christian Slater at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. This would be Kurt Coba ...
. "Again", peaked at number one on the Hot 100 on December 11, 1993, and topped the chart for two weeks.
The single was certified gold and then doubled to platinum by the RIAA on December 17, 1993. The single earned a nomination at the
66th Academy Awards
The 66th Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released in 1993 and took place on March 21, 1994, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p. ...
for Best Original Song, and she also performed the track at the ceremony. "Because of Love" reached number ten, but was not certified by the RIAA.
"Any Time, Any Place" peaked at number two on the Hot 100 and was certified gold on July 11, 1994.
"You Want This", the album's final commercial single for the United States, peaked at number eight on the Hot 100 and was awarded gold certification on December 6, 1994.
The album's
hidden track "
Whoops Now
"Whoops Now" and "What'll I Do" are songs by American singer Janet Jackson from her fifth studio album, ''Janet'' (1993). They were released in January 1995 as the album's eighth and ninth and final single, respectively. The songs reached number ...
" was released as a single in selected territories in 1995.
The album's massive popularity at the time of its release made it one of the first instances in which an album's songs would chart prior to them being released as proper singles. "
Throb
''Throb'' is an American sitcom that aired in syndication from September 6, 1986, to May 21, 1988. The series, created by Fredi Towbin, was produced by Procter & Gamble Productions in association with Taft Entertainment Television, and was dis ...
," which would eventually be released as a B-side to "
Any Time, Any Place" in June 1994, charted an entire year before due to unsolicited radio airplay, reaching number 66 on the
Radio Songs Chart. Similarly, the album cut "Where Are You Now' reached number 30 on the same chart, being present on the chart for 37 weeks.
Videography
Jackson's music video for "If" was staged as a futuristic Asian nightclub, with spy cameras monitoring the intimate interactions of patrons within their private boudoirs.
The video is an elaborate metaphor for the single's message of sexual fantasy, desire and voyeurism.
The video was directed by Dominic Sena, who previously worked with Jackson on music videos for ''Rhythm Nation 1814''. René Elizondo, Jr. directed the videos for "That's The Way Love Goes", and "Again". Videos for "Any Time, Any Place" and "You Want This" were directed by Keir McFarlane.
Janet World Tour
![Janet Tour](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Janet_Tour.jpg)
Jackson embarked on her second world tour in support of her debut album with the Virgin Records label. Costumes and wardrobe for the tour were designed by stylist Tanya Gill, with outfits "rang
ngfrom pipebone vests with high-heeled moccasin boots to zoot suits top-hats to circus-ringmaster bustiers."
With a show encompassing over 100 costumes, a team of over 50 costume makers was led by wardrobe supervisor, Helen Hiatt.
The tour's debut concert was held on November 24, 1993, in
Cincinnati
Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
,
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
. Jackson held a four show engagement at
Madison Square Garden which began on December 17, 1993, with the final performance held on New Year's Eve. Michael Snyder of the ''
San Francisco Chronicle
The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. The ...
'' described Jackson's stage performance at the
San Jose Arena
The SAP Center at San Jose (originally known as San Jose Arena and the HP Pavilion at San Jose) is an indoor arena located in San Jose, California. Its primary tenant is the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, for which the arena ha ...
in February 1994, as what erased the line between "stadium-size pop music concerts and full-scale theatrical extravaganzas".
Her performances also garnered criticism. Renee Graham of ''
The Boston Globe
''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...
'' commented that her stage show at Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts on June 20, 1994, proved her limited vocal range as "
e numerous costume changes, pyrotechnics and the dancing all but overshadowed her razor-sharp seven-piece band and three back-up singers", asserting Jackson was a better performer and entertainer than she was a vocalist. However, the ''
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' is a major regional newspaper based in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is the largest daily newspaper in the metropolitan area by circulation, surpassing the ''Belleville News-De ...
''s Steve Pick observed Jackson's stage show at the
Riverport Amphitheatre
The Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (originally Riverport Amphitheatre and formerly the UMB Bank Pavilion and Verizon Wireless Amphitheater) is an outdoor concert venue in Maryland Heights, Missouri, near St. Louis.
History
The venue was built ...
on July 12, 1994, made the ''Janet'' album's numerous hit singles more effective with her "larger-than-life stage persona".
Critical reception
''Rolling Stone'' magazine declared "
princess of America's black royal family, everything Janet Jackson does is important. Whether proclaiming herself in charge of her life, as she did on ''Control'' (1986), or commander in chief of a rhythm army dancing to fight society's problems (''Rhythm Nation 1814'', from 1989), she's influential. And when she announces her sexual maturity, as she does on her new album, ''Janet'', it's a cultural moment."
Claiming the album should bring her critical praise, the magazine concludes its review with the statement "
e princess of America's black royal family has announced herself sexually mature and surrendered none of her crown's luster in the process. Black women and their friends, lovers and children have a victory in Janet."
Robert Christgau originally gave the album an "honorable mention" in his consumer guide for ''
The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, th ...
'', wherein he complimented its erotic songs and cited "Funky Big Band", "Throb", and "Be a Good Boy" as highlights. ''Billboard'' magazine gave a positive review, stating "
stined to be an instant smash, Ms. Jackson's latest is a glamorous assortment of styles—pop, dance, R&B, rock, jazz, rap—each delivered with consummate skill and passion.
''Janet'' is described as "a career-defining record earning Janet the right to operate on a first-name basis."
Michael Snyder of the ''
San Francisco Chronicle
The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. The ...
'' lauded the album's content, stating "
is 75-minute opus, her first effort under a megabuck contract with the Virgin label, could be the make-out album of the '90s ... a silken soul odyssey, charting one woman's journey to emotional and sexual fulfillment through 10 songs and a series of spoken-word and ambient snippets."
Caroline Sullivan of ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' declared the album's "luxuriant collection of house, soul and pop is her best yet. Cod-Madonna throwaways like "Throb" aside, there are surprises all over the place.
Public Enemy
"Public enemy" is a term which was first widely used in the United States in the 1930s to describe individuals whose activities were seen as criminal and extremely damaging to society, though the phrase had been used for centuries to describe ...
's
Chuck D counterweights Jackson's sugared vocal to stunning effect on a black-pride anthem, "New Agenda"; soprano
Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano known for her distinctive vocal range and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performance ...
turns the heavyweight funk of "This Time" into something eerie and beautiful."
Robert Johnson of ''
San Antonio Express-News'' praised Jackson and her producers for taking a chance on a new sound. He wrote: "Under the enormous pressure of her $40 million deal with Virgin Records, Jackson had to deliver something big enough to put her on a first-name basis with the world ... 'janet.' isn't perfect, but it should be enough to make her the
Queen of Pop."
"
Dammit, Janet!," marveled ''
Melody Maker''. "The last Jackson hero(ine) has carried peacock feathers to the dance. Holier than
Mahalia Mahalia is a given name and may refer to:
* Mahalia Barnes (born 1982), Australian singer-songwriter
*Mahalia Belo, British film and television director
*Mahalia (singer) (born 1 May 1998), English singer, songwriter and actress, better known by th ...
." "''Janet'' will please most people," remarked ''
The Daily Telegraph
''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally.
It was f ...
'', "because it is crammed with the sort of tender, joyous pop music that lingers long after smarter records have been forgotten."
Steve Pick of ''
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' is a major regional newspaper based in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is the largest daily newspaper in the metropolitan area by circulation, surpassing the ''Belleville News-De ...
'' stated that although Jackson may not be the greatest singer or songwriter, but she has nonetheless "created and projected a persona that is irresistible. Part of it is a sexual allure, but more of it is the way she demands and receives attention."
John Mackie with ''
The Vancouver Sun
The ''Vancouver Sun'', also known as the ''Sun'', is a daily broadsheet newspaper based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The newspaper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. Published si ...
'' reported the album gives Jackson an "incredible style", proclaiming ''Janet'' as "the best commercial album so far this year, an album that could well vault her past the stumbling Madonna as Queen of the charts. Heck, she might even outsell Michael with this one."
"While her brother loops the loop on Planet
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by PepsiCo. Originally created and developed in 1893 by Caleb Bradham and introduced as Brad's Drink, it was renamed as Pepsi-Cola in 1898, and then shortened to Pepsi in 1961.
History
Pepsi wa ...
, it's hard to imagine the spotlight ever shifting to his sassy sis," remarked
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
, "but this modern hunk of an album should redress some of the balance."
Jay Cocks of ''
TIME
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, ...
'' magazine offered a mixed review, stating "
r all its sass, there is something a little too careful about this album: the rhythms are too studied and studiobound, the sexiness slightly forced. It's as if Jackson, aware that this was her premier effort under a new, $40 million record deal, felt weighed down by the burden of proving herself. When, however, she kicks loose on What'll I Do, a nifty, '60s-style soul stirrer, it's clear that Jackson's got nothing to prove to anyone, including herself."
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles (born October 25, 1953) is an American journalist who is the chief popular music critic in the arts section of ''The New York Times''.The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' compares Jackson to her brother Michael and Madonna, stating "Jackson's real strength, abetted by Jam and Lewis, is the way she tops dance-club rhythms with pop melodies. Less up-to-the-second than Madonna but still effective, the Jackson team has obviously been listening to the competition. Madonna's '
Justify My Love
"Justify My Love" is a song by American singer Madonna from her first greatest hits album ''The Immaculate Collection'' (1990). It was released on November 6, 1990, by Sire Records as the lead single from ''The Immaculate Collection''. The song w ...
' echoes in 'That's the Way Love Goes,' and 'If' resembles Michael Jackson's '
Why You Wanna Trip on Me,' starting with screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody."
He also comments that despite its shortcomings, "
e album's not about being real; it's about seamlessness and ingenuity, about giving the public something it can use. For a superstar, Jackson is downright selfless, but she gets the job done."
Chris Willman of the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...
'' gave an unfavorable review. Although sex in popular music is considered a standard concept, Willman states the only reason the album would cause a reaction is because of Jackson's well-known conservative nature. He comments: "So be it. Jackson's first album in four years is destined for a long ride at No. 1, not because it's any great piece of work, but largely for its aphrodisiacal aspirations."
David Browne of ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
'' stated that "
musical variety and daring lyrics were all that mattered, ''Janet'' would make the grade. But the album has a lot to prove. It is the first delivery under her $40 million contract with Virgin, and its title—which translates as 'Janet, period'—is meant as a declaration of independence from her oddball siblings ... She still sounds like a young woman from a male-dominated family who is searching for her identity and voice. Mostly, though, ''Janet'' sounds like a mess—period."
David Sinclair of ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...
'' wrote: "In the steamy, post-Madonna climate of the 1990s, Jackson is not about to let thoughts of love get in the way of the mechanics of lust, and like many of her superstar contemporaries she tends to confuse sex with soul."
Accolades
![Janet Jackson Tour 2011 (5548040182)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Janet_Jackson_Tour_2011_%285548040182%29.jpg)
Jackson received five nominations for the 1994
American Music Awards
The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show, generally held in the fall, created by Dick Clark in 1973 for ABC when the network's contract to air the Grammy Awards expired, and currently produced by Dick Clark Pro ...
: Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Album for ''Janet'', and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "That's the Way Love Goes" but lost all the awards to
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...
for ''
The Bodyguard (soundtrack)
''The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album'' is a soundtrack album from the film of the same name, released on November 17, 1992, by Arista Records. The album's first side (in its original LP and cassette formats) features songs recorded by ...
''. The same year she received two
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
nominations—
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female
The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (previously called Best Rhythm and Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female) was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Award ...
and
Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1969. From 1969 to 2000, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. Beyoncé has won it a record four times, while Bab ...
for "That's The Way Love Goes"—winning Best R&B Song. Several critics asserted she was unjustly overlooked in the Grammy's three major categories:
Record of the Year
The Grammy Award for Record of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without reg ...
,
Song of the Year and
Album of the Year.
Greg Kot
Greg Kot (born March 3, 1957) is an American music journalist and author. From 1990 until 2020, Kot was the rock music critic at the ''Chicago Tribune'', where he covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and busines ...
of the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...
'' stated, "Jackson again was denied a nomination for album of the year, even though 'janet' (Virgin) has remained in the Top 10 since its release last summer and has been critically acclaimed."
He adds that "the oversight is doubly vexing, because
ackson€”in a songwriting and production partnership with Jimmy Jam (aka James Harris III) and Terry Lewis—is not just a multiplatinum pop act but an artist who has reshaped the sound and image of rhythm and blues over the last decade."
Kot laid blame to the oversight on the fact that many believed her to be a producer-dependent artist—an opinion he found to be in error. Similarly, producer Jimmy Jam stated: "It's easy to say that the two albums she did before she met us weren't successful and when she got with us she became successful ... 'Control' was the first album she actually had input. I think that's just as significant as the fact we (Jam and Lewis) did the record."
Retrospective reviews
Later reviews were generally positive. In a retrospective review, Christgau gave ''Janet'' an "A−" and said that although the costly production by Jam & Lewis makes the music sound "more pornographic than obscene", "this achievement is Janet's, period ... Better nose than Michael, better navel than Madonna, better sex than either."
Laura Sinagra wrote in ''
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...
'' (2004) that with ''janet'', Jackson "took more risks" lyrically than on her previous albums.
Sal Cinquemani of ''Slant Magazine'' notes that the album "was at the forefront of the increasingly popular
sampling trend in the '90s, with one song even employing three different samples as its foundation. Some make perfect sense on a thematic as well as sonic level, like
Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. ...
's "Kool It (Here Comes the Fuzz)" and
Stevie Wonder's "
Superwoman, Where Were You When I Needed You" on "New Agenda," or the orchestral flourish from
Diana Ross & the Supremes
The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful ...
' "
Someday We'll Be Together
"Someday We'll Be Together" is a song written by Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers, and Harvey Fuqua. It was the last of twelve American number-one pop singles for Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label. Although it was released as the f ...
" on "If," which seems to exist for the sole purpose of providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance-break routines in music video history."
Commenting on the album's broad range, he states: "The mother of eclectic, genre-hopping records by
Christina Aguilera
Christina MarÃa Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
,
Gwen Stefani, and
Fergie, janet. incorporates new jack swing, house, pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, and even opera, but the album's range of styles isn't jarring in the least ... Janet has never been one thing and janet. is a feminist statement, to be sure."
Alex Henderson of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
offered a positive review, saying "
yone who expected Jackson to top Rhythm Nation—her crowning achievement and an incredibly tough act to follow—was being unrealistic. But with janet., she delivered a respectable offering that, although not as strong as either Control or Nation, has many strong points."
Commercial performance
''Janet'' debuted at number one on the
''Billboard'' 200 and the
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated ...
charts. It was the first time in history a female artist debuted at number one in the SoundScan era; with the largest first week sales in history for a female artist at the time with 350,000 units sold in its first week. The album also earned worldwide success, debuting at number one in the United Kingdom,
New Zealand,
and Australia.
It also debuted in the top 10 in Sweden,
The Netherlands,
Canada (with 65,000 copies sold at the first week
)
and Switzerland.
In
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
the album peaked at number five and charted for 49 total weeks, becoming Jackson's longest charting album.
''Janet'' was first certified gold by the
RIAA on August 8, 1993, denoting 500,000 units shipped within the United States.
The same day, the album's certification was raised to 3× platinum, denoting 3,000,000 units shipped.
On November 17, 1993, ''Janet'' received 4× platinum certification and was later awarded 5× platinum on December 17, 1993.
The following year on April 12, 1994, the album was certified 6× platinum.
It was the second best selling album of 1993 in United States with 4.3 million copies sold, behind ''
The Bodyguard'' soundtrack and was the biggest selling album by a solo artist. Within seven months of release the album had sold over ten million copies worldwide. Other certifications include a Double Gold certification in France,
a 2× Platinum certification in the UK And Australia,
a Platinum in New Zealand
and a Gold certification in Norway.
According to
Nielsen SoundScan, the album has sold 7,035,000 million copies in the United States since its release,
and also sold an additional 860,000 copies through
BMG Music Club
Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) was a division of a German media company Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Sony Corporation of America on 1 October 2008. Although it was established in 1987, the music co ...
. With estimated worldwide sales of over 14 million copies, it is Jackson's best selling album.
Legacy
![JanetJacksonUnbreak 1807 (23119827586)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/JanetJacksonUnbreak_1807_%2823119827586%29.jpg)
Although Jackson had reached superstar status in the United States, she had yet to achieve the same level of response internationally. According to Nacy Berry, vice chairman of Virgin Records, ''Janet'' marked the first time the label "had centrally coordinated and strategized a campaign on a worldwide basis" which ultimately brought her to a plateau of global recognition. Her historic multimillion-dollar contract made her the highest-paid artist in history, until brother Michael renegotiated his contract with
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainmen ...
only days later. Sonia Murry noted that she remained "the highest-paid female in pop ... a whirlwind of fashion, personality and slick musical packaging rivaled only by Madonna and Whitney Houston in today's pop pantheon."
James Robert Parish, author of ''Today's Black Hollywood'' (1995) wrote: "She confirmed her status as today's Queen of Pop when, not long ago, she signed a $35-$40 million recording contract with Virgin Records." Music critic Nelson George noted that while surpassing Michael would be next to impossible, Janet had assuredly reached iconic status. He explained: "What worked for Michael 10 years ago is working for her now ... Michael was clearly the voice of the '80s, those that grew up with him since Motown. And with the themes (independence, social consciousness and up-front yet responsible sexuality) that she's addressing in her albums and the popularity she's enjoying, she could very well be the voice of the '90s."
''Rolling Stone's'' ''The '90s: The Inside Stories from the Decade That Rocked'' (2010) documented that she had achieved some level of growth with each of her records, and that with ''Janet'', "
ing soul, rock and dance elements, as well as opera diva Kathleen Battle,
heunleashed her most musically ambitious record, guided as always, by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis."
Richard J. Ripani author of ''The New Blue Music: Changes in Rhythm & Blues, 1950–1999'' (2006) noted that she had led the incorporation of
rap
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
into mainstream R&B with a select group of artists, in that "rap music no longer sounded so musically distant to many R&B listeners because many of its traits were commonly heard in songs by mainstream artists such as Janet Jackson,
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...
,
Keith Sweat, and others."
''
Vibe
''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...
'' magazine observed that "R&B was omnipresent in 1993. It was a year in which Janet Jackson, at 27, topped the ''Billboard'' pop album charts for six straight summer weeks, with her critically lauded, six-times-platinum ''Janet''" It became one of only five albums in the history of the ''Billboard'' 200—along with
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...
's ''
Whitney Whitney may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Whitney'' (2015 film), a Whitney Houston biopic starring Yaya DaCosta
* ''Whitney'' (2018 film), a documentary about Whitney Houston
* ''Whitney'' (TV series), an American sitcom that premiered i ...
'' (1987),
Norah Jones
Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar; March 30, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and as of 2012, has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. ''Billboard'' named her the ...
's ''
Feels Like Home'' (2004),
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her vivid songwriting—often inspired by her personal life—has received critical praise and wide media coverage. Bor ...
's ''
Fearless
Fearless or The Fearless may refer to:
Psychology
* Lack of fear
* Courage or bravery
Film, television and audio Film
* ''Fearless'' (1978 film), an Italian film directed by Stelvio Massi
* ''Fearless'' (1993 film), an American drama directed ...
'' (2008), and
Susan Boyle's ''
I Dreamed a Dream
"I Dreamed a Dream" is a song from the 1980 musical ''Les Misérables''. It is a solo that is sung by the character Fantine during the first act. The music is by Claude-Michel Schönberg, with orchestrations by John Cameron. The English lyric ...
'' (2009)—to debut at number one and remain at the top of the chart for a minimum of six consecutive weeks.
It is also only one of seven albums—including Michael Jackson's ''
Thriller'' (1982) and ''
Bad'' (1987),
Bruce Springsteen, ''
Born in the U.S.A.
''Born in the U.S.A.'' is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Bruce Springsteen, released by Columbia Records on June 4, 1984. It topped the charts in nine countries, including the US and UK, becoming his most commercially su ...
'' (1984),
George Michael's, ''
Faith
Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".
Religious people ofte ...
'' (1987), ''Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814'' (1989) and
Katy Perry's, ''
Teenage Dream'' (2010) to yield a minimum of six top ten hit singles on the Hot 100.
The release of ''Janet'' signaled the singer's transformation from conservative teen role model to adult
sex symbol. In ''You've Come A Long Way, Baby: Women, Politics, and Popular Culture'' (1996),
Lilly J. Goren observed that "
er1993 album ''Janet'' moved away from politically driven lyrics to songs about love and sex-lyrics that could capitalize on her new sexy, more scantily clad image in MTV music videos. Jackson's evolution from politically aware musician to sexy diva marked the direction that society and the music industry were encouraging the dance-rock divas to pursue."
Reporter Edna Gunderson commented: "The woman whose hourglass torso and sensual gyrating have made her MTV's reigning sex kitten is today a vision of wholesome beauty." Professor and social critic
Camille Paglia
Camille Anna Paglia (; born April 2, 1947) is an American feminist academic and social critic. Paglia has been a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since 1984. She is critical of many aspects of modern cultu ...
expressed: "Janet's unique persona combines bold, brash power with quiet sensitively and womanly mystery. Her latest music is lightning and moonglow."
Her music videos contributed to a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women, as Jean M. Twenge, author of ''Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before'' (2007) wrote: "In
Alfred Kinsey
Alfred Charles Kinsey (; June 23, 1894 – August 25, 1956) was an American sexologist, biologist, and professor of entomology and zoology who, in 1947, founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University, now known as the Kinsey Insti ...
's studies in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid-1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18-24 had experienced
cunnilingus
Cunnilingus is an oral sex act performed by a person on the vulva or vagina of another person. The clitoris is the most sexually sensitive part of the human female genitalia, and its stimulation may result in a woman becoming sexually aroused ...
. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend, with both Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson heavily implying male-on-female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in ''Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution'' (2000) states that "
the early to mid-1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing
TLC
TLC may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Television
* ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2
* TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network
** TLC (Asia), an A ...
, Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson as examples of female artists simulating cunnilingus in their videos. ''Rolling Stone'' wrote that "she celebrated becoming an erotic being ...
howingyoung women a way to have their sexual freedom and their dignity, to have their cake and eat it too."
She was named Best Female Singer and Female Sex Symbol by ''Rolling Stone'' for the year 1993 in pop music.
[The 1993 awards in the pop music industry are presented. Awards were based on responses of "Rolling Stone" readers, the opinions of music critics and the opinions of pop musicians. ] Goren adds that later pop stars such as
Britney Spears,
Christina Aguilera
Christina MarÃa Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
and
Pink
Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
would rely on image, sex appeal and choreography as much as musical talent.
Track listing
All tracks written and produced by
Janet Jackson,
James Harris III
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/ pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...
and
Terry Lewis, except where noted.
Notes
*"That's the Way Love Goes" contains:
**samples from "
Papa Don't Take No Mess", written by
James Brown,
Fred Wesley
Fred Wesley (born July 4, 1943) is an American trombonist who worked with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s and Parliament-Funkadelic in the second half of the 1970s.
Biography
Wesley was born the son of a high school teacher and big band lead ...
, Charles Bobbit and
John Starks and performed by J. Brown.
**an interpolation from "
Georgy Porgy", performed by
Toto and written by member
David Paich.
*"You Want This" contains samples from:
**"
Love Child", written by
R. Dean Taylor,
Frank Wilson,
Pam Sawyer
Pamela Joan Sawyer (born 1938) is a British songwriter/lyricist, who started writing songs in the mid-1960s and whose credits as a co-writer at Motown included " Love Child", " If I Were Your Woman", "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left ...
,
and performed by
Diana Ross & the Supremes
The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful ...
.
**"
Jungle Boogie
"Jungle Boogie" is a funk song recorded by Kool & the Gang for their 1973 album '' Wild and Peaceful''. It reached number four as a single, and became very popular in nightclubs. ''Billboard'' ranked it as the number 12 song for 1974, despite ther ...
", written by
Robert Bell,
Ronald Bell,
Claydes Smith,
Robert Mickens,
Donald Boyce,
Richard Allen Westfield,
Dennis Thomas and
George Brown George Brown may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* George Loring Brown (1814–1889), American landscape painter
* George Douglas Brown (1869–1902), Scottish novelist
* George Williams Brown (1894–1963), Canadian historian and editor
* G ...
and performed by
Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. ...
.
*"If" contains samples from:
** "
Someday We'll Be Together
"Someday We'll Be Together" is a song written by Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers, and Harvey Fuqua. It was the last of twelve American number-one pop singles for Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label. Although it was released as the f ...
", written by
Johnny Bristol,
Harvey Fuqua
Harvey Fuqua (July 27, 1929 – July 6, 2010) was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.
Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s. He is notable as one of th ...
and
Jackey Beavers
Robert Lewis "Jackey" Beavers (June 19, 1937 – October 28, 2008) and performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes.
** "Honky-Tonk Haven", performed by
John McLaughlin John or Jon McLaughlin may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* John McLaughlin (musician) (born 1942), English jazz fusion guitarist, member of Mahavishnu Orchestra
* Jon McLaughlin (musician) (born 1982), American singer-songwriter
* John McLaug ...
*"New Agenda" contains samples from:
**"
School Boy Crush
"School Boy Crush" is a song from Average White Band's 1975 album, '' Cut the Cake''.
It has been heavily sampled in hip hop, rap and R&B songs such as:.
#" Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" by TLC
#" Wanna B Where U R (Thisizzaluvsong)" by Floetry
#"Watch M ...
", written by
Hamish Stuart
James Hamish Stuart (born 8 October 1949) is a British guitarist, bassist, singer, composer and record producer. He was an original member of the Average White Band.
Biography
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Stuart attended Queens Park School in ...
,
Onnie McIntyre,
Alan Gorrie,
Steve Ferrone,
Molly Duncan
Malcolm "Molly" Duncan (24 August 1945 – 8 October 2019) was a Scottish tenor saxophonist and founding member of Average White Band.
Career
Malcolm "Molly" Duncan recorded with Ray Charles, Tom Petty, Buddy Guy, Ben E. King, Dire Straits, Br ...
and
Roger Bell Roger Charles Bell is a Canadian former secondary school teacher and convicted criminal from Prince Edward Island. Born in Murray River in 1944, Bell is a graduate of University of Western Ontario and taught high school chemistry at several schools ...
and performed by
Average White Band
The Average White Band (also known as AWB) are a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million-selling instrumental track " Pick Up the Pieces", and their album ...
.
**"Kool It (Here Comes the Fuzz)", written by Gene Redd, Woodrow Sparrow, Robert Bell, Ronald Bell, Westfield, Mickens, G. Brown, Thomas and Smith and performed by Kool & the Gang.
**"
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)", written and performed by
Stevie Wonder.
*"One More Chance" is a cover of
the song of the same name, written by
Randy Jackson and performed by
the Jacksons
The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most ...
.
Personnel
* (Ex) Cat Heads –
rap
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
* Alice Preves –
viola
; german: Bratsche
, alt=Viola shown from the front and the side
, image=Bratsche.jpg
, caption=
, background=string
, hornbostel_sachs=321.322-71
, hornbostel_sachs_desc=Composite chordophone sounded by a bow
, range=
, related=
*Violin family ...
*
Ann Nesby
Ann Nesby (born Lula Ann Bennett; July 24, 1955) is an American R&B, gospel and dance music singer and actress. She is the former lead singer of Sounds of Blackness; a songwriter with credits including hits sung by Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knigh ...
–
background vocals
A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...
* Bernie Edstrom –
horn
Horn most often refers to:
*Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound
** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments
*Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various ...
arrangements,
trumpet
The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...
* Carolyn Daws –
violin
The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...
* Celine Leathead – violin
*
Chuck D – rap
*
Core Cotton – background vocals
* Daria Tedeschi – violin
* Dave Karr –
flute
* David Barry –
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...
* David Bullock – violin
* David Carr – flute
*
David Eiland
''For the baseball player of the same name, see Dave Eiland''
David Eiland (born in St. Louis, Missouri) is a musician, composer, recording artist and producer. Eiland is a multi-instrumentalist playing saxophones, guitar, bass, drums, Aerophon ...
– sax (alto)
* David Rideau –
mixing
* Frank Stribbling – guitar
*
Gary Raynor –
bass
* Hanley Daws – violin
*
Jamecia Bennett – background vocals
*
Janet Jackson – main performer,
record producer
A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...
,
vocals
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...
, background vocals
* Jean Krikorian – design
* Jeff Gottwig –
clarinet, trumpet
* Jeff Taylor – bass, vocals
*
Jellybean Johnson
Garry George "Jellybean" Johnson (born November 19, 1956) is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A member and drummer of The Time who worked along with famed producers Jimmy Ja ...
– producer
*
Jimmy Jam
Jimmy may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy
* ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma
* ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...
–
keyboards, producer, vocals
*
James "Big Jim" Wright – keyboards, vocals
* Jossie Harris –
talking
*
Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano known for her distinctive vocal range and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performance ...
– vocals
* Ken Holman – clarinet,
sax (tenor)
*
Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. ...
* Laura Preves –
bassoon
*
Lawrence Waddell –
organ (hammond)
* Lee Blaskey –
orchestration
* Len Peltier –
art direction, design
*
Marie Graham – background vocals
* Mark Haynes – bass, drum programming, programming
* Merilee Klemp –
oboe
The oboe ( ) is a type of double reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range.
...
* Mike Sobieski – violin
*
Patrick Demarchelier
Patrick Demarchelier (; 21 August 1943 – 31 March 2022) was a French fashion photographer.
Early life and education
Born near Paris in 1943 to a modest family, Demarchelier spent his childhood in Le Havre, Normandy, with his mother and four ...
–
photography
Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employe ...
* Robert Hallgrimson – sax (alto), trumpet
* Steve Hodge – mixing
* Steve Wright – trumpet
* Steven Pikal –
trombone
The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate ...
*
Stokley –
drums
* Tamas Strasser – viola
*
Terry Lewis – producer
*
The Average White Band
The Average White Band (also known as AWB) are a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million-selling instrumental track " Pick Up the Pieces", and their album ...
*
Tina Landon
Tina Landon (born January 6, 1963) is an American choreographer based in Los Angeles who has worked with Prince, Anastacia, Mýa, Pink, Jay-Z, Marc Anthony, Kristi Yamaguchi, Aerosmith, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Janet Jack ...
– talking
* Tom Kornacker – violin
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time chart
Certifications and sales
, -
See also
*
List of best-selling albums by women
The following albums, recorded by female solo artists and all-female groups, have sold at least 10 million copies. This list can contain any types of album, including studio albums, extended plays, greatest hits, compilations, soundtracks, an ...
*
List of albums containing a hidden track
This article contains a list of the names of albums that contain a hidden track and also information on how to find them. Not all printings of an album contain the same track arrangements, so some copies of a particular album may not have the hi ...
Notes
References
Further reading
*Bronson, Fred. ''The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits''. Billboard Books, 2003.
*Halstead, Craig. Cadman, Chris. ''Jacksons Number Ones''. Authors On Line, 2003.
*Ripani, Richard J. ''The New Blue Music: Changes in Rhythm & Blues, 1950–1999''. Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2006.
External links
''Janet'' Video Page at janetjackson.com
{{good article
1993 albums
Albums produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Concept albums
Janet Jackson albums
Virgin Records albums